Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text

Article 30 - Municipal Energy Aggregation Program pdf file

Town Meeting · Town Meeting archive year 2021 · Record b01f9c1071e4ddf585

Saved text from 10 source pages. Transcription and OCR may contain errors; verify figures and wording against the original. Retrieved 2026-10-15.

Municipal Energy Aggregation
              Warrant Article 30




    Sponsored by the Canton Select Board

What is Municipal Energy Aggregation?

 •   This is a form of group purchasing in which a city or
     town arranges electricity supply on behalf of its
     citizens
 •   Aggregation means that Canton’s electrical load is
     combined (“aggregated”) and given to the same
     electricity supplier, allowing for the best price
     possible from that supplier.
 •   Aggregation is allowed by Massachusetts law (MGL
     c.164 §134) and is growing in popularity.

How does it work?

●   Current Eversource residential customers
    automatically enrolled.

●   Residents can opt out at any time without
    penalty.

●   Residents who have a contract with a
    competitive supplier are NOT automatically
    enrolled.

What is aggregation?
What happens now                          What happens with Municipal Energy Aggregation




   Minimum Renewable Energy Requirement         Goal: Increases Renewable Energy

What Does it Change?

Only the

Supplier is      —       Supplier (Eversource) (Basic Svc Fixed)

Changed                                         Generation Service Charge                             737 kWh X 11397                  $84.00
Subtotal Supplier Services                                                                                               $84.00
Delivery (Rate Al R1 RESIDENTIAL)
Customer Charge                                                                                                   $7.00
Distribution Charge                                       737 kWh X .06145                   $45.29
Transition Charge                                      737 kWh X -.00061                   -$0.45
Transmission Charge                                   737 kWh X .03058                  $22.54
Renewable Energy Charge                           737 kWh X .00050                   $0.37
Energy Efficiency                                         737 kWh X .01725                  $12.71
Subtotal Delivery Services                                                                          $87.46
Total Cost of Electricity                                                                                         $171.46

Your primary relationship for electricity will remain with Eversource.
Eversource will continue to deliver your electricity, address power outages, and bill you.
The program will be integrated into your electricity bill.

[Original embedded text, retained for comparison]
What Does it Change?

Only the
Supplier is
Changed




Your primary relationship for electricity will remain with Eversource.
Eversource will continue to deliver your electricity, address power outages, and bill you.
The program will be integrated into your electricity bill.

Why Should Canton Pursue
Municipal Energy Aggregation?
 Savings: Goal is for the aggregation price to beat the average of
 Eversource’s varying prices over the length of the electricity supply contract.

 Stability: Rates are typically locked for 24-36 months whereas the
 Eversource rate changes every 6 months.

 Greener Choices: Municipal Energy Aggregation is an opportunity to
 affordably purchase energy with a higher renewable content than MA law
 requires (RPS), usually 5% more.

 Supports Local Economy: Municipal Energy Aggregation can drive
 demand for new local renewable resources (local jobs).

What Other Towns have
    Municipal Energy Aggregation?
●   Over 160 Massachusetts communities already use Municipal
    Energy Aggregation or have applications pending.

●   Communities in this area include Brookline, Dedham,
    Foxborough, Holliston, Milton, Natick, Newton, Sharon,
    Walpole, and Westwood.

What is the Process?
Basic Outline of Municipal Energy Aggregation Approval Process:

 ●   Town Meeting approves warrant to pursue a Municipal Energy Aggregation
     plan
 ●   Town selects a Energy Broker
 ●   Broker creates aggregation plan (at no cost to Canton)
 ●   Town Administration approves plan
 ●   Department of Energy Resources (DOER) reviews plan
 ●   Department of Public Utilities (DPU) approves plan
 ●   Broker issues request for bids and electricity suppliers respond with bid
 ●   Town selects electricity supplier *
 ●   Broker publicizes Energy Aggregation plan to residents and small businesses,
     and handles all opt-around requests

* If no plans or energy prices are deemed acceptable, there is no
obligation for the town to proceed.

FAQs
 Would this program replace Eversource as my electric utility?
 No. Eversource would remain the electric utility for Canton and would continue to deliver your electricity.
 This program would change the supplier on your Eversource bill, and it would change the rate that is used to calculate the Supply
 charges on your Eversource bill. You would continue to receive your bill from Eversource, you would continue to pay Eversource, and
 you would continue to call Eversource if your power goes out.
 Would I need to sign a contract?
 No. There is no contract to sign and no installation of any equipment. You can leave the program without penalty at any time. You
 can choose to opt out of the program.
 How would I join the program?
 Customers currently receiving Eversource’s default basic service would be automatically enrolled in the program. However, you can
 choose to opt out of the program. Customers who currently have their electricity supplied by a competitive supplier would need to
 opt into the program.
Will I be able to keep my current plan?
Yes. No one is locked into the Community Choice Aggregation plan, and you may opt out of the plan to keep the Eversource defaults
or whatever energy buying program you choose.
Will this affect the utility companies' profit margins?
No. Eversource earns its money on the transmission and delivery only, not on the power generation, so utility jobs should not be
affected.
Will buying more solar cause brownouts on cloudy days?
Np. The grid is able to sustain a much higher percentage of renewable sources than it currently delivers. We could reasonably double
the amount of solar currently powering our grid without running into trouble

QUESTIONS?
         Municipal Energy Aggregation




                   More info at
https://www.town.canton.ma.us/885/Municipal-Energy-Aggregation